Mental health illnesses can make you feel isolated and lonely, and like you’re the only person in the world that is/ has felt this way. The illness is debilitating and has the ability to strip you of your self worth. But, I have some news for you, you are not alone, I promise! I will demonstrate this very point to you by revealing some information you might not have known about some very talented celebrities, that you may have seen and thought they live perfect lives. Well this is not the case, they have experienced mental health problems like you and I, and have used their celebrity status to speak about it.
It’s important to understand that your illness does not define who you are as a person, and it doesn’t mean you can’t be successful either.
Adele suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her son, she is still a record breaking artist who is adored by millions.
Demi Lovato has struggled with eating disorders, depression and addiction quite publicly, she is still a great singer and actor.
Emma Stone has had panic attacks many times in her life, she is still a fantastic actor.
Ryan Reynolds experienced anxiety when filming Deadpool, he is still a talented actor.
Kendall Jenner has anxiety and suffers from panic attacks, she is still a successful supermodel.
Miley Cyrus has suffered from depression, yet she’s still an international pop star.
Carrie Fisher had manic depression throughout her life and even wrote a book called Postcards from the Edge which is a semi-autobiographical novel about an actress in rehab who meets another patient called Alex and realises that ‘there’s always someone who’s even closer to the edge of reason.’ She was still an adored actor, writer and comedian.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has battled with depression. Many wouldn’t believe this as his is the picture of physical strength, and whilst there is strength in admitting to having mental health problems, you wouldn’t initially expect it from The Rock. However he is still a successful actor, producer and retired wrestler.
Amanda Seyfried has had depression and in 2016 she told Allure that she had been on antidepressants for 11 years and didn’t see the point in coming off them. She is still a brilliant actor.
Stephen Fry has bipolar disorder and was diagnosed at the age of 37. He is also the president of mental health charity Mind. He made a fascinating documentary called The Secret Life of The Manic Depressive, which is fantastic. Yet Stephen is still a great comedian, actor and writer.
Ellie Goulding used to have panic attacks and she wrote in Well + Good that: “My new life as a pop star certainly wasn’t as glamorous as all my friends from home thought.” She is still a talented singer and performer.
J.K Rowling experienced severe depression and was suicidal at one stage in her life. She didn’t become successful until the age of 32. She is still one of the best authors of the 21st century and has sold over 400 million copies of the Harry Potter books.
There are hundreds more celebrities I could have included on this list, but I have picked a small selection to prove to you, that even the people we idolise aren’t perfect they are human like everyone else, they feel the same, think the same and experience illnesses the same as we do. You are not alone.
Wellbean blog 